yuval ben ami

Seven Nights 3: Sidewalks and playgrounds
Part three. In which old friends reunite and talk about leaving. For other nights click here. Some time after sunset, the muezzin at Jaffa’s Abu Nabout mosque called for prayer one last time. Meanwhile, protesters at the nearby Clock Square stretched a clothing line across the street. On the line hung baby clothes, reminders of…
By Yuval Ben-Ami August 8, 2015
Seven Nights 2: Privileged white male
Part two. Following the attack, our night owl returns to Jerusalem in drag for a rally, and walks into an emotional pitfall.   For other nights click here. Someone else was murdered on Thursday, the night of the Jerusalem Pride stabbing. In the northern West Bank village of Duma, a group of hooded men, most likely…
By Yuval Ben-Ami August 6, 2015
Seven Nights 1: The Stabbing
The plan was to write a leisurely travel journal: a record of Canaan’s summer nights, but the journey began with a dark event: a stabbing at Jerusalem pride, and took on a different nature. Welcome to a seven-part, nocturnal diary of shock and recovery, a true story from an emotional land. For other nights click…
By Yuval Ben-Ami August 4, 2015
Latest
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Project
Putting together an homage to your favorite singer is a trivial thing — if you live in a normal country. It started off as a simple enough idea: let’s make a musical tribute to Lorde, New Zealand’s young and upbeat singer-songwriter. I’m crazy about Lorde’s music, despite being nearly 40 years old and usually more…
By Yuval Ben-Ami April 27, 2015
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 15: The love club
The final chapter, in which we make music. Part 15 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. “Yuval, what is your time limit?” Khader asked me online. There was a time limit. The spring’s succession of guided tours was supposed kick off in two weeks. Once that happened, I would have no…
By Yuval Ben-Ami March 5, 2015
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 12: Never be Royals?
When the going gets tough, the only way to move forward is to think differently. Following the disheartening drive from the South, the Lorde tribute project picks a new direction. Part 12 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. Friday was the last day of the rainy spell. The brave editor of…
By Yuval Ben-Ami February 23, 2015
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 11: The lift
It’s cease or desist for the Lorde project, as Yuval gets a rare opportunity for a long nocturnal drive with a great musician. Part 11 of 15. For more, click here. We all packed up into a seven-seater Suburban: Mira Awad, three other actors and myself. Yigal Ezrati, Jaffa Theater’s director, was the driver. Clearly I…
By Yuval Ben-Ami February 19, 2015
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 9: The Arab Lorde
 Two nights in Jerusalem bring many a new acquaintance, and make things seem so much simpler— or complicated. Click here to read the previous chapters of the ‘Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries’ Winter was only getting more severe, which presented a dilemma. Being a poetry lover, I head south each year for a poetry festival held in the heart of…
By Yuval Ben-Ami February 12, 2015
The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 8: Mizrahi vibrations
There’s more to Israeli music than your typical Do-Re-Mi, but as our heroes try to explore new scales, they run into a false note. Click here to read the previous chapters of the ‘Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries’ The storm was beating relentlessly at our shutters. It was too cold to go out to Nehama, too rainy…
By Yuval Ben-Ami February 9, 2015
In spite of everything there is yet hope for this country - if we choose there to be
A Mideast alternative to Israel: A response to Yuval Ben-Ami
 Yuval Ben-Ami is thinking of leaving Israel for a saner life somewhere in Europe. Though I know the feeling he talks about and sympathize with it deeply – my choice, time and time again, is to stay right here, at home. I can even justify it. Of course, I totally agree with Yuval. It’s a…
By Haggai Matar May 16, 2012
Christmas in the holy land (Photo: Mati Milstein)
Support Yuval Ben-Ami’s Christmas journey in the holy land
Dear +972 readers, Christmas – it all began here – and today, it hides around the holy land in some unexpected places. This December, +972’s resident travel writer Yuval Ben-Ami will find the smells, sounds, customs, and lives that go unnoticed at the heart of a holiday celebrated by billions around the world, and bring…
By +972 Magazine December 7, 2011
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